Police hunt child sex offender

Victorian police are today hunting an intellectually disabled child-sex offender who fled from a Melbourne shopping centre while on a supervised visit from a government-run facility.

Paul Cudmore, 19, was placed on a guardianship order after serving a six-month sentence in 2002 for a sexual offence with a minor, Department of Human Services spokesman Brendan Ryan said.

He was placed in Melbourne's Statewide Forensic Services Centre where he was released on Sunday for a supervised visit to Northcote Plaza.
About 10.20am (AEDT) Cudmore absconded from a female supervisor.

"There is a concern over his sexual behaviour towards children," Mr Ryan said.

"He has a mild intellectually disability and we are also concerned about his anti-social behaviour."

Mr Ryan said Cudmore had been on a number of supervised visits over the past few months without incident.

"A full investigation will be conducted into this incident," he said.

Police have warned the public not to approach Cudmore who they have described as a serious risk to the community.

A police spokeswoman said he could be hitchhiking.

Public Advocate Julian Gardner said Cudmore was not mentally ill and had only committed one offence.

"He's not a prisoner and he is not serving a sentence. He is somebody who is living in a therapeutic facility which runs programs for people with intellectual disabilities," he told ABC radio.

"What we've got here is a young man whose had one offence and I do think there is a risk that we are turning this into something that is far more hysterical than it needs to be."

Premier Steve Bracks said a full investigation would be held into the incident.

"I'm very concerned about what's happened here and there will be a full examination and inquiry by the Department of Human Services," he told Melbourne radio 3AW today.

Cudmore was wearing black track suit pants with a white stripe, a blue jumper with grey shoulders, a green and grey short-sleeved shirt and black runners.

He is described as 172cm tall, of solid build and fair complexion, with short, straight brown hair and brown eyes.